GROUP ACCUSED OF CRUELTY CLEARED FOR SPAY CLINIC.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer

The Los Angeles Animal Services Department will go ahead with plans to have the Animal Foundation International operate a spay and neuter clinic in the East San Fernando Valley, officials said Monday.

The decision was made after an investigation cleared the group of allegations that it cruelly mishandled animals at its North Central Los Angeles clinic.

A city investigation has concluded there was no criminal misconduct in the death of a dog at the clinic, according to a report Monday by Sharon Morris, acting general manager of the city agency.

Animal-welfare activist Carole Ellis alleged that a dog was strangled as a worker at the clinic used too much force in trying to restrain the animal.

Morris, however, said city investigators ``found no criminal activity on the part of technicians and that the veterinarian was not involved at all.''

In a report to the city Animal Services Commission, Morris said that, as a result of the incident, one technician was fired, a surgeon resigned and the clinic was closed so that a new veterinarian and technicians can be hired. Ellis also had contended that cats and dogs suffered from too much or too little anesthesia during operations.

Commissioner Gini Barrett said she is comfortable that concerns are being addressed.